DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9, 5 March 1908, Page 22

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

March 2. The recently-issued Pastoral of his Lordship the Bishop was read- in the Cathedral on Sunday. The Rev ft Father O'Connell, S.M., is to be entertained at a valedictory social in the Catholic Club rooms on Tuesday evening, when it is intended to make him a presentation, on behalf of the parishioners. His Lordship the Bishop intends, should his health permit,- to deliver a course of Lenten sermons on the ' Catholic Church In relation to Marriage,' during which he will dwell comprehensively on the recent Encyclical of the - Holy Father _on tho subject. Additional changes have been effected among clergy of the diocese. The : Rev. Father Leera has been transferred to the charge of Barfield from Ahaura, and is tobe replaced by the Rev.. "Father Creed, of Kumara. The Rev. Father O'Dwyer, who had temporary charge of HoKlitika', is for the present to assume charge of Kumara. ■ The Rev, Father Mahony, S.M., who for the past two years has been in charge 'of the parochial district of Leeston, including Southibridge, left last week to undertake his recently, appointed duties at Wellington. Prior vto his leaving the district he was the recipient of a purse of sovereigns from the Sou-tMbridge congregation, and a handsome "silver-mounted umbrella- from the Sunday schoo) children. A + . Leeston the parishioners, also, made a presentation of a purse of sovereigns, and the children of the Convent Schools • a memento of his connectlion with the district. . - i On last Friday evening his Lordship the Bishop opened at Anuberley a bazaar in aid of the Hanmer Churcb debt liquidation fund. In the course" of hjs address the Bishop said he undertook the duty at some personal inconvenience in deference to the Rev. Father Price, who had' labored arduously in the district and, besides diligently -carrying out his numerous parochial duti.s, had succeeded! in erectingi churches in every centre of population where such did not exist when he first assumed charge of the extensive parish. Among these was the church at Hanmer, which had proved a great boon, not only to the Catholics in the -vicinity, but to the numerous • visitors from elsewhere. Its existence in the rapidly rising and popular 'health resort was therefore not of merely local importance, but of distinct advantage to the whole Dominion. The devoted pastor of the ..district was, after eight years' strenuous labor, leaving to assume other responsibilities in the Cathedra! city, and his laudable desire was to leave as few as possible encumbrances to his successor, the Rev: Father Richards, hence the present undertaking, to which he wished every success. He thanked the residents of Amib'erley for the practical help given by carrjing out the bazaar in their own district for the benefit of another, their action being a disinterested one 1 -really, a nd prompted purely by the bonds of religion, and a laudable endeavor to assist a neighboring centre. The attendance was >very satisfactory, and the proceedings were entered into with great enthusiasm.. The Rev. Mother St. Felix, recently appointed Superior of Nazareth House in Chrlstchurch, travelled to Wel'ing'ton in the ' Arawa ' from* - London, and reached Ohristefciurch on/ Wednesday morning. Two. Sisters to aid in the work of the community hxve accompanied the Rev. Mother, and a thirdi, who left London with them, disembarked at C a pe Town, to join one of the houses df the Sisters of Nazareth in South Africa. At Cape Town the party met the Rev. Mother De Pazzi, the first superior and' founder of the community in Christchurcto, who was on her way to England, .having beftn aDpointed to the charge of one of the numerous Nazareth, Houses there. The voyage out proved a most delightful experience. The Rev. . Mother St. Felix has within the p a s<t year directed the- building in red stone of a very large institution" of the Order at Glasgow. The institution there at present shelters about 300 inmates, - and in conformity wath a wise rule of the community, ample arrangements are provided for extension as refntiiTei. The experience gained in the erection "of the G-lase;ow instituijion will prove inv a lua'ble to the Reverend Mother in the toilding of the permanent Nazareth Honjse in tWis city, a work which is to be taken in hand' almost immediately, a nd when completed on the

liberal scale planned will offer accommodation sufficient foopyiears to come. Prom Glasgow : Mother St. FeHx was connected with. the institution of the Order at Isleworth, near London, and was formerly dn South Africa.' She is favorably impressed with the prospects m« Christ-church and the district, which, she says, so far as she has seen, greatly resembles the Homeland. (From an occasional correspondent.) March 1. A well-filled house was present at the Choral Hall on Thursday evening last to witness a musical and dramatic entertainment, in* aid of the Catholic Club's building land. 1-he following was the first part of the programme :— Overture, Miss L. McG:ilicuddy ; sketch, Miss McDonald and Mr. F. McDonald ; song, Miss E. Mahon • son-r, Mr. L. Quinn'; son^s, Mr. C. Read; Vdi Maori song, Mrs. C. M. Brooke ; comedy sketch, Messrs. Waucliop and Dwyer ; Dutch Clog Dance, Misses a. and V farter. The second part consisted of the comedy, ifoots at the Swan,' m which the characters were sustjined by Misses McDonald (2), A. Murray, B. Fannine Master A. Mcnonald', and Messrs. F. Wauchop Chammans Ainger and J. Dwyer. The entertainment was a success, the performers one and alt act.ua t<in& themselves with great credit It is anticipated that the building fund will be considerably augmented as a result of the performance. Mi Frank McDonald, who conducted the arrangements ittofde? mTSSSS I**1 ** on lhe splendid success